illegal

Borrowed from French illégal, from Medieval Latin illegalis, from Latin legalis. In senses relating to immigration, via clipping from illegal alien or illegal immigrant.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ɪˈliːɡəl/
• (US) enPR: ĭ.lē'gəl, IPA^(key): /ɪˈli.ɡəl/, [ɪɫˈli.ɡəɫ]
• Rhymes: -iːɡəl
• Hyphenation: il‧le‧gal

illegal (comparative more illegal, superlative most illegal)

1. Contrary to or forbidden by law, especially criminal law.

   This is illegal, you know!

   Nearly 40 million people live in UK areas with illegal air pollution

   their illegal mining operations in Asia, Africa and elsewhere, are protected by officials and police paid to look the other way – and powerful customers in the construction industry who prefer not to ask too many questions.

   • a. 1654, John Selden, “Money”, in Table-Talk, third edition, London: Jacob Tonson, published 1716, page 74:

     In all times the Princes in England have done ſomething illegal to get Money: But then came a Parliament and all was well, the People and the Prince kiſt and were Friends, and ſo things were quiet for a while.

   • 2013 July 19, Peter Wilby, “Finland spreads word on schools”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 6, page 30:

     Imagine a country where children do nothing but play until they start compulsory schooling at age seven. Then, without exception, they attend comprehensives until the age of 16. Charging school fees is illegal, and so is sorting pupils into ability groups by streaming or setting.

2. Forbidden by established rules.

   Moving a pawn backward is an illegal move in chess.

3. (philately, of an issue printed for collectors) Totally fictitious, and often issued on behalf of a non-existent territory or country.
4. (of a person, sometimes offensive) Being or doing something illegally.

   illegal immigrant;  illegal logger;  illegal pilot

5. (chiefly US, sometimes offensive) Being an illegal immigrant; residing in a country illegally.

The use of "illegal" to describe a person rather than an action is often regarded as offensive; see below.[1]

• (forbidden by law): criminal, felonious, illicit, unlawful, irregular
• (totally fictitious): bogus

• (forbidden by law): lawful, legal

• illegal alien
• illegal immigrant

illegal (plural illegals)

1. (obsolete) An illegal act or technique.
   • c. 1650, John Spalding, The History of the Troubles and Memorable Transactions in Scotland, from the Year 1624 to 1645, volume II, Aberdeen: T. Evans, published 1792, page 72–73:

     That whatſoever illegals hath been uſed againſt his friends and ſubjects, by impriſoning them without law, or impoſing fines upon their eſtates, be diſclaimed, and that perſons ſo committed be forthwith diſcharged.

2. (colloquial, plural, as illegals) Contraband, esp. illegal substances such as drugs.
   • 2004, Callum Blue as Mason, “Reapercussions”, in 'Dead Like Me', season 1, episode 4:

     I've got illegals in my bottom.

   • 2008, J. D. Robb [pseudonym; Nora Roberts], 'Strangers in Death', Penguin, →ISBN:

     “Here’s what I could do,” Eve supposed. “I could slap your head against that wall, while I’m kicking your balls into your belly,” she added to the companion. “And after that, I can have you in restraints while I turn out your pockets. You’re carrying illegals.

3. (colloquial, offensive) An illegal immigrant.
4. (espionage) A spy working abroad illegally and undercover, without visible ties to his or her country’s authorities.
   • 2012, Christopher Andrew, ‘Colder War’, Literary Review, issue 399:

     Anna Chapman, whose glamorous appearance won her more publicity in the Western media than all the other illegals combined, was so successfully deceived by a US sting operation that she handed over her SVR laptop to an FBI agent posing as a Russian.

• (illegal immigrant) crimmigrant

• The use of "illegal" to describe a person, rather than an action a person has undertaken, is often regarded as offensive.[2][3][4] The use of "illegal" as a noun is especially charged.[1]

• gill-ale

Borrowed from Medieval Latin illēgālis, from Latin lēgālis corresponding to i- +‎ llegal.

illegal (epicene, plural illegales)

1. illegal

• llegal

Borrowed from Medieval Latin illegalis.

illegal

1. illegal

• ulovlig, forbudt

Borrowed from Medieval Latin illegalis.

• IPA^(key): /ˈɪleɡaːl/

• Audio

  (file)

illegal (not comparable)

1. illegal

• gesetzwidrig
• strafbar
• ungesetzlich

• Illegaler (“illegal / illegal immigrant”), Illegale (“illegal / illegal immigrant (female)”)
• Illegalität

• illegal in Duden online

illegal (plural illegaes, comparable)

1. Obsolete spelling of ilegal